Limiting Cases of the Dissolution of a Solid in Its Own Melt.

Mathematical models are derived for the melting of plate-, cylinder-, and sphere-shaped solids in well-stirred liquid baths. Four asymptotic cases of the dissolution process are considered; viz, isothermal and adiabatic melting of a solid at a temperature a few degrees below that of a slightly superheated liquid bath; isothermal melting of a solid at its own temperature in a strongly superheated bath; and isothermal melting of a solid at a temperature much below its melting point in a slightly superheated bath. The dependence of melting efficiency on the geometry of the solids is discussed. The theoretical conclusions were checked in model tests with ice and water.